File Photo courtesy of Office of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri
COTABATO CITY—Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri announced Friday that the Senate is now in the final stages of passing the Senate Bill (SB) 2214—the measure seeking to extend the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
“We, in the senate, are in the final stages of passing the Bill, postponing the BARMM elections, so that you will be able to deliver your promises to our people of this elusive peace and prosperity [In Shaa Allah], within a month’s time, we will get it done, ” said Zubiri during the Bangsamoro Governance Summit on July 23, via Zoom.
In his message, Zubiri lauded the Bangsamoro Government in its effort of conducting several consultations across the region in order to assess its governance and the needs of its constituents.
“I am very happy to see that despite the challenges of this pandemic, the BTA and our LGUs are able to hold much-needed consultations to identify the needs of our people,” he said.
“These consultations are necessary for the BTA to successfully parlay BOL-madated budget into meaningful programs and projects that will really reach our people in the grassroots level,” the Senator added.
The Senate Majority Floor Leader underscored major programs and projects of BARMM, noting that about Php33-Billion out of Php80-Billion block grant has been dedicated to social services such as education, health, indigenous peoples affairs, which indicates that BARMM is “really prioritizing socio-economic upliftment of the people.”
Zubiri added that developing industries and uplifting the lives of the people will eliminate causes of violence, insurgencies, and war.
“I am very glad that BARMM is investing a lot in education, a large Php25.3-Billion for this year alone. And I know that Php19-Billion is allocated to economic services like public works, agriculture, and fisheries, and transportation and communication—sectors that are really crucial for the development of the region,” Zubiri said.
With this, the author of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) reiterated his utmost support to the interim Bangsamoro Govenment.
“I am always here as your ally, a fellow Mindanaon, who believes in the just and lasting peace that you all are striving for. I am ready to offer all the help that I can give to my Bangsamoro brothers and sisters,” Zubiri said. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
